I’m applying to a new role internally at my company that a colleague thinks I would be a great fit for. It would be a significant step up in my responsibilities and pay + I wouldn’t have to hustle as much as I do and could work less long hours… regardless of how this application goes that’s a huge goal for me just in general! I want to quit my self-employed work with an agency I absolutely hate in a field that I’ve never enjoyed but pursued out of convenience/necessity.
I’m a generalist with good analytical decision-making skills and can do pretty much anything if I sit down and take the time to learn it (I keep surprising myself with what I can do!) so hopefully some of the efforts I’ve put in this year will pay off in seeking a career pivot.
Would love to have more leisure time and to dedicate more effort to my creative pursuits. Going back to therapy might be a good idea because I‘ve made significant progress in a lot of areas but could use help in others. I also want to umm decorate my house more and probably replace most of my wardrobe…
Dec 5, 2024
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i’ve worked in the arts for my entire career, mainly in art museums. i’m also an independent curator and ran a gallery out of my storefront apartment for a year and a half. i’ve archived photographs, led museum tours, curated exhibitions, couriered art across the country in an 18-wheeler, written wall texts, edited books, interviewed artists, fundraised, done countless studio visits, written exhibition essays, provided accessibility for disabled visitors, built a curatorial practice around working with disabled artists, project managed performances, and participated as a performer in a couple of pieces (including a Tino Sehgal).
i am immensely proud of my work and have done and seen some incredible things. i’ve also worked with incredible passionate people who have the privilege and honor of making culture. but I’m also very burnt out and currently in the midst of plotting a departure from the art world, in search of a job that provides more balance. my whole job as a “museum worker” has been my identity for 14 years and I’m curious to see what my life looks like next. i’m mediating on and grappling with the idea that we weren’t put on this planet to labor, which compounded with the effects of lockdown and the pandemic, has changed my relationship to work and having a linear career. life is too short and too precious to give all of ourselves to a job (hope that doesn’t make me sound far out or too radical).
right now I’m working with a career coach, doing informational interviews, playing with my resume and cover letter formats, and applying for a wild array of non-art / non-museum jobs. I’d love to hear if you have any insights or suggestions! it’s scary making the leap but I’m trusting my gut here.
Feb 15, 2025
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I’m in the process of developing some of my professional skills and visualizing a career pivot because my career is in a flop industry that’s going to die soon + this is something I just fell into doing out of convenience and I actually hate it and find it to be boring low-skill work. I’m realizing I have strong competencies I didn’t believe I had with the encouragement and guidance of somebody who I see as sort of a mentor! I’m dabbling in projects that I find to be intellectually stimulating and fulfilling and getting great feedback in return.
Career changes are something I wholeheartedly believe in and it’s never too late to try something new as long as you have an actionable plan for how you’re going to achieve it! 🌈
Jun 18, 2024
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Fashion Design grad here! a phrase that helped me early in my career was, “your career is a jungle gym, not a ladder.”
Lean into what seriously interests and inspires you, lean away from the mundane, stressful, and toxic—and climb away. I started as a fashion designer in nyc, but clothes ended up boring me. Now, I work in comms and account mgmt at an ad agency! brand psychology and identity is part of what drew me to fashion, and it took leaving fashion (and nonprofit!) to find happiness at work.
PS unravel work/career as an identity as quickly as possible to achieve maximum health/happiness in work. I quit a glam yet toxic job “on paper” last year spent the summer reflecting on why we so often ask kids what they want to be —vocation based—when they grow up. When I grow up I want to be kind, generous, funny, happy, and as self sufficient as possible.
Mar 11, 2024
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“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage.”
— Anaïs Nin
This is uncharacteristically raw and personal, even for me, and pretty heavy! I know many of you have seen me posting through it and I feel safe to talk about it openly now that I’ve safely landed at the start of my new life. It’s honestly even a little bit embarrassing but I think it’s important to share.
I’ve never publicly mentioned it on here, but I have a husband; as of Friday, we’d have been together for 11 years, and we’ve been married for 3 years as of 2/22. I realize now that I wanted to explore what I looked like outside of my relationship with him because I had lost that. This is why PI.FYI has been so meaningful to me as a space to express myself and connect with people—to rediscover my voice.
I had been living a lie this entire time, to others but worst of all to myself. He’s been verbally and emotionally abusive, physically but without touching me, to the point that every day I spent with him I was in danger. I’ve been shrinking myself and walking on eggshells to avoid making him insecure and provoking his casual put-downs and fits of rage, while hanging on for dear life to the threads of good I could see.
I’ve wanted so badly to leave, more than anything, but I felt like there was no way out and that this was just something I would need to endure indefinitely—but someone who is so very dear to me helped me see that I have wings to fly, not by acting as my savior but by reminding me of my own power. The emotional safety they built and the gentle care they showed me made me feel like I could open up to them. With their encouragement I was brave enough to tell the truth to my friends, my family, my boss, and they have received me with warm, loving and open arms and rallied to support and protect me. The financial and logistical aspects were the most intimidating to me and it’s going to be tough for a while but I’m going to be better than okay!
Now I’m opening up to you. This isn’t the only abuse I’ve suffered in my life, and my old therapist told me she believed it was my mission to share my strength and light with others to inspire them and show them that change is possible.
I hope that by sharing this, I can reach even just one person who is going through something similar and show that they are not alone, and they are not weak. People with certain backgrounds may be more vulnerable to abuse, but it can happen to anyone. It thrives in darkness, shame, and isolation—and breaking that silence is the first step toward freedom.
Leaving is the scariest thing I have ever done but I have so many angels around me, and I am endlessly grateful. Thank you for being here with me 💌
Mar 16, 2025
My dad teases me about how when I was a little kid, my favorite thing to do when I was on the landline phone with somebody—be it a relative or one of my best friends—was to breathlessly describe the things that were in my bedroom so that they could have a mental picture of everything I loved and chose to surround myself with, and where I sat at that moment in time. Perfectly Imperfect reminds me of that so thanks for always listening and for sharing with me too 💌
Feb 23, 2025
Schedule sent my resignation email for the morning, effective immediately ✅💅
Feb 27, 2025